Posthuman Predilections and Protean Visions in Stephen King’s Billy Summers and Later
Posthuman Predilections and Protean Visions in Stephen King’s Billy Summers and Later

Summary/Abstract: This paper analyzes Stephen King’s Later (2021a) and Billy Summers (2021b) in the context of posthumanism and protean identity to reveal the incorporation of controversies about human nature, ethical norms, and AI in modern literature. Employing textual analysis, it scrutinizes the protagonists’ moral complexities and evolving identities, highlighting their posthuman tendencies. In Billy Summers, the protagonist’s shifting identity, molded by environmental demands and personal ethics, reflects the adaptability found in AI discourses. Later explores Jamie Conklin’s protean abilities, blurring the boundaries between life, death, and the supernatural, offering new perspectives on identity and ethics. This research elucidates the evolving nature of humanity in the context of technological and existential challenges.

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